Estonia launches a new Startup Visa program for
foreign startup employees and startups

Jan 19, 2017

On the 18th of January, a new Estonian Startup Visa program
was launched, initiated by the local startup community and the Estonian
Ministry of Interior, allowing non-EU nationals to come and work for Estonian
startups, relocate their existing startups or found new ones in Estonia on
preferential terms.

In order to qualify for the preferential terms
of the startup visa, startups must fill out an application detailing their business
and team, which will then be evaluated by a Startup Committee consisting of members
of the Estonian startup community. In case of a positive decision, the founders
will have a choice between applying for a one-year visa with the option of
extending it for another year, or a permit for startup entrepreneurship for
five years. For startups participating in either the Buildit Hardware
Accelerator or Startup Wise Guys Business Tech accelerator programs, there is a
fast-track process available and they do not need to go through the Startup Committee
evaluation and can proceed to applying for a visa or a permit.

Startup Visa programs have currently been implemented
in more than ten countries around the globe with many more acknowledging the
need for such programs. The latest announcement of the creation of a Startup
Visa program came only this week from France showing that the competition for
obtaining international talent is growing by the days.

“Compared to most of the other Startup Visa
programs, the Estonian one differs by offering preferential terms for obtaining
a visa or a permit for both the startup entrepreneurs who wish to found or
relocate their company to Estonia as well as employees seeking to work for
Estonian startups,” explained one of the initiators of the Startup Visa program,
the Head of Startup Estonia, Mari Vavulski. “Furthermore, it offers the option
for both a short-term stay on a visa or a stay for up to 5 years with a
temporary residence permit. I hope that the new Startup Visa program encourages
Estonian startups to pursue hiring more foreign employees, thus contributing to
the community with new valuable members.”

“The Startup Visa program is another important
step in transforming Estonia into an ever open and diverse country, while marking
our position in the global startup ecosystem. It is an important asset that we
can have the members of the startup community with their knowledge and
expertise evaluating the applications – this is something that sets us apart
from other countries with similar programs,” said the president of the Estonian
Startup Leaders Club, Rein Lemberpuu.

According to the CEO of the Buildit Hardware
Accelerator, Aleksander Tõnnisson, they have had people from over 15 different
countries relocating to Estonia from their 36 portfolio companies. “It is thankfully
very easy to start a company in Estonia when coming from outside of the
Schengen area, but it is insensibly difficult to obtain a work or living
permit. I believe that the new Startup Visa will enable foreign startup
founders to operate their businesses in Estonia without worrying about their
immigration status and that is also an important step further in making Estonia
more attractive for international talent,” added Tõnnisson.

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